Health, Diet, and Divinity

This article, adapted from a discourse given by Sathya Sai Baba at the Sathya Sai Hospital in Whitefield on June 3, 1995, highlights simple yet profound truths on the relationship between health and divinity, awareness of which is especially important in today’s day and age.

Many seek to cross the ocean of samsara (illusory world) by penance, pilgrimages to sacred shrines, scriptural studies and various meditation techniques. But all of these can come to nothing Without service to others. All spiritual exercises are understood fully only through seva (service).

If one is to achieve the four main goals of life—dharma (right conduct), artha (acquisition of wealth), kama (fulfillment of desires), and moksha (liberation)—health is essential. Without good health, a person is unable to accomplish even the most trivial thing. Truly, health is wealth.

Cause of Disease

Because of the influence of the Kali Age (Iron Age), people fall prey to all kinds of physical ailments. Further, they have no peace of mind, despite an abundance of wealth and every conceivable luxury. Doctors abound. But, even with so many amenities, disease is rampant. In addition to bodily sickness, mental disease is growing rapidly. Caused by tension and worry, mental ailments exacerbate many physical ailments. Mankind seems afflicted with discontent. As one set of desires is satisfied, other desires crop up. But, in truth, if desires are reduced, contentment grows.

Because of the perversions of the Kali age, the five basic elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) are polluted. The water we drink is impure. The air we breathe and the food we eat are tainted. As a consequence, minds become polluted.

Matter and Mind

We need to understand the true relationship between matter and mind. When asked about the mind, someone might say, “Don’t mind.” If asked about matter, another might respond, “It doesn’t matter.” But this casual attitude leads to a failure to understand mind and matter.

Only when we understand the nature of the mind can we recognize the true nature of humanness. What is the mind? It is positive, not negative. It represents the power of the atma (soul) and the power of thought (sankalpa). It can travel any distance through space. It is capable of exploring the power of the atom. The mind is capable of recognizing the truth, valid for the three categories of time—past, present and future. The mind, essential to daily life, constitutes the very essence of life. It is the source of all strength. Yet many people these days seem indifferent to the importance and the powers of the mind.

Search for Happiness

From birth to death, we seek happiness. The search starts with education. But education doesn’t bring happiness. When we grow up, we hope for a good job, but even when we have it, we find that it doesn’t make us happy. We think surely marriage will bring contentment, but the feeling may still be elusive. Finally, we declare: “My life is total darkness.” What is the reason for this despair? Ego is the cause. As one grows, the ego expands also. One after another, desires increase. But even the fulfillment of those desires does not bring happiness.

Where can happiness or bliss be found? It does not exist in material objects; it is not obtained through physical pleasures. The truth is that we are the embodiment of bliss. Though we search for it outside ourselves, our search bears the mark of ignorance. If we are the embodiment of bliss, how can we ever hope to find it outside ourselves?

Today, even after the acquisition of wealth, many people are unhappy. Many are perpetually racked by lack of peace. Devotees come to Swami from all parts of the world. Each one says, “I want peace.” They utter three words: “I,” “want,” and “peace.” “I” indicates ego. “Want” indicates desire. Remove the ego and desire and you will have peace. When the cover is removed, peace will manifest itself.

Health and Happiness

We can lead a blissful life only when we enjoy health. Wealth can offer certain comforts, but not peace. Wealth can provide a multistoried mansion but not sound sleep. Wealth can provide bodily ease, but physical comfort does not produce bliss. Air conditioners and mattresses may give relief to the body, but when there is no peace of mind, of what use are such comforts? The body is like a water bubble; the mind is like a monkey. Do not follow either body or mind. Follow your conscience.

These days, many people focus on body and mind instead of following their consciences. Each person needs to inquire deeply into the question: “Who am I?” In searching for the answer, each will discover that the body, the senses and the mind are all instruments; We are their masters. Instead, many are still slaves to body and mind when it should be the other way around. you are the soul. Make it the basis of all your actions.

Human Values

Today, many people forget their essential humanness. The first step is to recognize basic human values: truth, righteousness, peace, and love. In order for a bulb to make light, it needs a connecting wire, a switch and an electric current. For us, the current is truth or God. It is energy. This divine energy has to flow through the wire of dharma (righteousness), reach the bulb of peace, and produce the light of love. Love is God. Live in love. Love is everything. Without love, life is a living death.

Love expresses itself in many forms but is essentially one. Often, love is tainted by selfishness, whether the love is directed toward one’s mother, one’s spouse or children, or others. Selfishness pollutes the entire society. Attachment to others is natural, but there should be limits. When the limit is exceeded, disease starts. Excessive desire leads to disease of every kind.

Food and Mind

The most common source of illness among people today is tension. What is the cause of tension? Indulgence in excesses of various kinds. We need to learn to moderate the hectic pace of life. Hurry causes worry; worry causes disease. Hurry, worry, and curry (fatty foods) are the cause of heart disease. Therefore, the first requirement for health is the control of food and mind. When you control these two, there will be no room for illness.

Importance of the Eyes

Doctors know that the eye consists of billions of cells which react to light. If any of these cells is affected, the vision is affected. The eye is the most important organ for comprehending the universe. Hence, the eye must be regarded as a sacred instrument. You cannot change creation, but by changing your vision, you can get the proper view of creation. Here is an illustration:

Once a king developed acute stomach trouble. Doctors administered medicines but they didn’t help. The king consulted a great yogi, who said that in order to cure the stomach ailment, he would have to treat the king’s vision. The king, he said, needed to see nothing but green everywhere. After the yogi left, the king ordered his subjects to paint everything in his kingdom green. Later, the yogi returned and found that people were splashing green paint everywhere. In answer to his query, they said they were carrying out the king’s orders. The yogi hurried to the king. “It’s absurd to paint everything green,” he said. “In order to see green everywhere, you need only wear green glasses.”

The Vision of Love

If we change our vision, we will experience peace. When people view the world with the vision of love, they have peace. All diseases are cured. Since everything has a psychological basis, most diseases have their origin in the mind. When a person feels that something is wrong with him, he develops an illness. A healthy mind is needed for a healthy body. But it is not enough to be physically healthy. Man also needs God’s grace. To acquire God’s grace, you need to cultivate the love of God. Genuine love emanates from the heart. Start the day with love, spend the day with love, end the day with love. That is the way to God. If you develop love, disease will not come near you.

Avoid Excesses

I am 70 years old. I can see an ant from a great distance. My vision is not due to divine power; it comes from physical power. The explanation lies in diet control. My weight—only 108 pounds—has remained the same for over 60 years. Proper balance must be maintained throughout life. We need balance in respect to knowledge, among other things. Many people pollute their knowledge by seeing bad things and having bad thoughts. We must learn to lead pure lives. Only then will we experience bliss and health.

Embodiments of the Divine! Realize the value of health. Self-restraint is essential to maintaining health. Regulate your habits. Also, the good devotee does his duty. Duty is God. Further, develop good manners—the mark of a true man or woman. Everyone needs to develop the manners necessary for daily life. Manners should bring self-satisfaction. You should conduct yourself properly—not for the sake of others, but for your own sake. Where self-satisfaction exists, self-realization follows. For all this, you need self-confidence. Most people have little confidence in themselves and are perpetually racked by doubts. In Jesus’ time, there lived one “doubting Thomas.” Today, many are doubting Thomases. Every person doubts every other person.

Health and Bliss

For every person, two things are essential: good health and happiness—health for the body and bliss for the spirit. With these two wings, you can soar to any height. Both things are obtainable through God’s grace. To receive God’s grace, you have to engage yourself in sacred actions. Bear in mind the three “P’s”: purity, patience and perseverance. With these three, you are bound to acquire both bliss and good health.

Bhagavan’s Example

You may believe it or not, but the truth is that these things are responsible for my health and bliss. I am always happy. I would like to run, but I have no place to do it. Even at my age, I am strong enough to lift anyone. Potentially, this kind of strength is present in everyone. But it is often wasted. If one properly conserves energy, one can do anything.

Free Medical Aid

The Whitefield hospital, which began as a single room, has grown into a huge complex—and is still growing. Because the number of patients increases all the time, its doctors have to meet growing demands on their care. All services are totally free. Not a paisa (cent) is collected from any patient. Such free medical treatment, available both at Whitefield and in the Super Specialty Hospital in Prasanthi Nilayam, is not given anywhere else in the world. Elsewhere, hospitals have become big business. In fact, in every sphere, commercialization is rampant. Education is a business; music is a business; health is a business. The whole world has become a market place. Welfare services should be free for all. Many people cannot afford the cost of medical treatment. Doctors should render free treatment to such persons. My words should not be misunderstood. Even in the earning of incomes, there should be a limit. Many doctors lack permanence. They join a hospital on a good salary, but after a few months, when another hospital offers a higher salary, they accept the new position. But how long is he likely to stay at the other hospital? When one moves around like that, he or she forfeits the confidence of hospital management. Other kinds of workers behave in the same way. They shift from place to place. The right thing is for you to stick to a job for three or four years. Then your work will secure automatic recognition.

Doctors and Patients

Many doctors are obsessed with salaries. Their focus should lie with healing the sick. When they concentrate on that, they will develop into excellent doctors who inspire confidence in their patients. Then any medicine given will work wonders. Patients will hail such a physician as a “good doctor.” A good doctor in due course becomes a “God doctor.” It is said that a doctor is divinity itself. Doctors should render service in this spirit. Service is God.

Very good work is being done in our hospitals, as well as elsewhere. Bharat would not be what it is without good people. Without meritorious people, can the world experience light? There are good and bad people in the world. All should become good and develop into godly men. The same atma is present in everyone. Doctors should look after the patients with the same care they show their kith and kin. Then all would experience equal happiness.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, July 1995